Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Nov 2012)

Effects of neuromuscular electrostimulation in patients with heart failure admitted to ward

  • de Araújo Carlos José Soares,
  • Gonçalves Fernanda Souza,
  • Bittencourt Hugo Souza,
  • dos Santos Noélia Gonçalves,
  • Junior Sérgio Vitor Mecca,
  • Neves Júlio Leal Bandeira,
  • Fernandes André Maurício Souza,
  • Junior Roque Aras,
  • dos Reis FranciscoJoséFariasBorges,
  • Guimarães Armênio Costa,
  • Junior ErenaldodeSouzaRodrigues,
  • Carvalho Vitor Oliveira

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1749-8090-7-124
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 7, no. 1
p. 124

Abstract

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Abstract Background Neuromuscular electrostimulation has become a promising issue in cardiovascular rehabilitation. However there are few articles published in the literature regarding neuromuscular electrostimulation in patients with heart failure during hospital stay. Methods This is a randomized controlled pilot trial that aimed to investigate the effect of neuromuscular electrostimulation in the walked distance by the six-minute walking test in 30 patients admitted to ward for heart failure treatment in a tertiary cardiology hospital. Patients in the intervention group performed a conventional rehabilitation and neuromuscular electrostimulation. Patients underwent 60 minutes of electrostimulation (wave frequency was 20 Hz, pulse duration of 20 us) two times a day for consecutive days until hospital discharge. Results The walked distance in the six-minute walking test improved 75% in the electrostimulation group (from 379.7 ± 43.5 to 372.9 ± 46.9 meters to controls and from 372.9 ± 62.4 to 500 ± 68 meters to electrostimulation, p Conclusion The neuromuscular electrostimulation group showed greater improvement in the walked distance in the six-minute walking test in patients admitted to ward for compensation of heart failure.

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